This invention relates generally to operation of percussion equipment, and more particularly to use of foot activated pedal unit or units to control operation of cymbals, at a location or locations spaced at selected distance from the pedal unit or units. More particularly, it concerns provision of a rotary linkage to transmit motion of a pedal at a pedal unit to a remotely located cymbals disc, without need for a flexible cable, as in U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,500.
There is need for improvements in foot pedal control of cymbal apparatus, whereby use of a flexible cable motion transmission means is eliminated. Such cables introduce unwanted friction or drag in the mechanical motion transmission to the remote cymbal apparatus, and are also ungainly in a percussion instrument performance set-up. Also, there is need for low friction, tight, rotary coupling, between the pedal unit and the cymbals apparatus, to eliminate need for sliding, flexible cable endwise connection in such apparatus, and wherein a return spring is employed at the cymbal stand, in the motion coupling relation to the foot pedal unit.
It is a major object of the invention to provide a solution to the difficulties and problems referred to. In this regards the invention concerns apparatus for use in actuating a cymbal or the like, there being an upright support stand and an upright rod associated with the stand and attached to a cymbals disc, to move it vertically, and there being a foot activated pedal unit remote from the stand, together with:
a) a first frame associated with the stand, and a connector unit associated with the frame, said rod connected with the connector unit to be moved longitudinally upwardly and downwardly by the connector unit,
b) an elongated rotary linkage extending laterally between the pedal unit and the connector unit, the connector unit configured to transfer rotary motion transmitted by the linkage to longitudinal motion transmitted to the rod.
As will be seen, the connector unit may include a rotor having an axis of rotation, the linkage connected to the rotor to rotate the rotor about its axis, and a transmission displaced endwise by the rotor to displace the rod upwardly and downwardly in response to rotor rotation. The rotor may for example comprise a sprocket, and the transmission may comprise a chain connected between the sprocket and rod.
A further object is to provide support structure supporting a portion of said linkage, at a location between the first frame and the pedal unit. The support structure may comprise a drum, such as a bass drum having a rim to support the linkage, for rotation. The linkage may comprise multiple links, a first link supported by said support structure. A second link may then be connected between the pedal unit and the first link; and a third link connected between said connector unit and said first link. Typically, the first link is elevated above the level of a beater for the base drum. To compensate for any misalignments, universal joints may be connected between the links, as will appear.
Yet another object includes the provision of a return spring acting via the rotary linkage to yieldably resist downward movement of the pedal at the pedal unit. That return spring may typically be located at the cymbal stand to resist endwise vertical displacement of the rod in a direction to clash the cymbals, and to transmit motion to the sprocket at the stand.
The method of use of the apparatus includes providing and employing at least one universal joint in series with the described linkage to compensate for misalignment between the pedal unit and connector unit.
The method also includes providing a percussion instrument in the space between the pedal unit and the connector unit, the linkage by-passing beater for said percussion instrument. The linkage may include an elevated middle link supported by a drum rim, and two additional links, one of which is connected between the pedal unit and said middle link, and the other of which is connected between said middle link and said connector unit.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention, as well as the details of an illustrative embodiment, will be more fully understood from the following specification and drawings, in which:
In
A foot activated pedal unit 23 is positioned at a distance from the stand 11 and the frame 18, whereby percussion or other equipment can be located within space 24 between 18 and 23, and/or at the opposite side 25 of the unit 23. Accordingly, the drummer need not be positioned close to the cymbals stand 11 in order to operate the cymbals discs, since a laterally elongated rotary linkage 26 is provided to traverse space 24, and is operatively connected to the pedal unit 23 and to the rod 14.
Pedal unit 23 includes a base 29, a foot operated pedal 30 hingedly connected at 31 to the base, an upright or pedestal 32, a laterally extending axle 33 that is bearing supported at 34 by the pedestal, a sprocket 35 on the axle, and a drive chain 36 connected to the forward end of the pedal, and extending upwardly to entrain the sprocket. As the pedal is pushed down, the sprocket 35 rotates the axle and the linkage 26. The linkage rotates a sprocket 38 on an axle 39 that extends between the pedestals 20. A motion transfer means such as a chain 40 entraining the sprocket 38 is driven endwise to move the rod 14 downwardly, acting to clash the cymbals disc.
Linkage 26 is shown to preferably include two universal joints 56 and 57 at opposite ends of a laterally elongated leakage bar member or extension 26a. As seen in
See also the set-up adjustments made possible in
The invention also enables linkage extension, to further separate the pedal unit and the cymbals stand, and to substantial distances, for example to accommodate a bass drum 70 in space 34, for example in the manner as shown in
The described structure also enables connection to the rim at either side of the drum, as may be needed for a selected percussion instrument playing set-up.
The following elements are also shown in the drawings:
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
3747464 | Russell | Jul 1973 | A |
4538499 | Livingston | Sep 1985 | A |
4747333 | Hoshino | May 1988 | A |
5267500 | Lombardi | Dec 1993 | A |
5789688 | Schiano | Aug 1998 | A |
5990401 | Braun et al. | Nov 1999 | A |
6476300 | Kurosaki | Nov 2002 | B1 |
20050150355 | Sutej | Jul 2005 | A1 |